Letter



L. HAMMEL. LETTER BOX.

(No Model.)

No. 454,732. PatentedJuneZB, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS HAMMEL, OF DETROIT,- MICHIGAN.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,732, dated June 23, 1891.

- Application filed July 14, 1890- $erial No. 358,754. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs HAMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in letter-boxes; and the invention relates to the peculiar construction of the receiving trough, whereby it forms a guard against theft of mail-matter, and whereby papers as well as letters may be inserted without clogging and will be fed into the box beneath, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved letterbox. Fig. 2 is avertical central cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the trough and the cover.

A is the casing, preferably having a curved top for the feed-aperture. 111 one end of this casing is formed the aperture B, having side slots or extensions a. This aperture is normally closed by a cover 0, secured to the pivot-pin D of the shield E. This shield is trough-shaped, formed of the two parts I) 0, connected together at their meeting-points and pivoted at the rear of the casing upon the pin D. The partb of the trough or shield is connected to the lower edge of the cover 0 by a pin (Z, which forms a stop for the trough and cover. This pin engages in the notch e in its upper position to permit of the cover 0 clearing the aperture B.

F is a curved flange extending inwardly from the front of the casing just beyond the edge of the part0 of the trough, forming a guard during the upward movement of the trough. In the normal position of the parts the weight of the trough holds itin the position shownin Fig. 2, the cover being over. the aperture and the part b of the trough forming a close partition, dividing the upper part of the box from the lower part, and preventing the possibility of .getting at the inside of the mail-receptacle. To open it, the operator takes hold of the handle f upon the cover and lifts it, disclosing the aperture. In raising the cover the trough is turned on its axis,

lifting part b above the top of the aperture, and bringing the part 0 below the aperture horizontally, forming a close partition across the box and preventing the possibility of gaining access to box below. During the upward movement of the trough the part 0 approaches the flange F, cutting 01? the possibility of any one inserting a wire during the opening of the cover. The aperture B permits of inserting a paper, while the side slots or apertures a permit the insertion of a letter.

G is any suitable door at the base, through which the mail may be taken out.

H is a lock.

The mail being inserted falls into the trough, from which it falls by gravity as soon as the cover is dropped, the trough being practically inverted in its'lower position.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a letter-box, the combination of a casing having an opening therein, a pivoted cover for said opening, and a receptacle pivoted in the casing normally held below the opening and rigidly connected with the cover, whereby the movement of the latter swings the receptacle, substantially as described.

2. In a letter-box, the combination of the casing having an aperture at the end thereof, the cover 0, and the trough, consisting of the parts I) c, pivoted at the side of the casing and extending across the same, said trough in its normal position forming a shield for the mail-receptacle and a receiver for the mail when the cover is open, substantially as described.

S. In a letter-box, the combination of the casing, the aperture B, cover 0, pin D,trough E, consisting of two stantially as described.

4. In a letter-box, the combination of the casing, the aperture B, cover 0, pin D, trough E, pin d, notch e, and curved flange F, substantially as described.

5. In a letter-box, the combination,with the casing, of the circnlar aperture B, having slots to on opposite sides thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in I parts Z) c, and pin (Z, sub- 

